Page 81 of Entangled

“Well, no need is kind of wrong. There is a need, mon ange. Thirty-seven weeks pregnant with my son is a very good reason to move into the penthouse now, while you have a bit of time left to settle in.”

Cara sighed, and shifted the bag of heavy text books on her shoulder. “Okay, I know I was pissed off about the search on my place, but it’s still not a good reason for me to upend everything right now to move into the penthouse. We’re a little late into this pregnancy to be doing such a big move, Gian.”

“Except I would like for you to, Cara.”

“Listen, we’ll talk more when I get out of the university’s library.”

“Don’t hang up on me because you don’t want to discuss this.”

“I’m not. I’m at the entrance doors right now. I want to get these books out of my place. I will call you back.”

“When you’re out, right? I want to talk about this, even if you don’t.”

“I have to head over to the shelter, too,” Cara reminded him.

Gian grumbled under his breath. “Isn’t your time off supposed to start soon for the shelter?”

“Next week, yes.”

“Don’t work too hard, Cara.”

She smiled. “Why not? You happen to be very good at massages. It gives me an excuse to ask for one.”

“You don’t need an excuse, pretty girl.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Do so.”

Thankfully, Gian dropped the prickly topic of Cara moving into the penthouse. With a quick “I love you” and another demand for her to call him back when she could, the call ended. Cara headed into the university’s library, ready to get rid of her textbooks she had needed for the year.

The university had a program that allowed students to drop off textbooks to be used for students the subsequent year who were low income, and couldn’t afford to buy the expensive books on their own. A lot of private libraries would pay a small amount for the textbooks, but the university’s program was non-profit. It was all by donation and they didn’t charge the students to get the used books. Cara didn’t care about the money, she cared about being able to help someone.

It didn’t take long for Cara to get her textbooks dropped off and head back out the way she had come. She fully intended to call Gian back as soon as she could, but he would have to wait. As it was, traffic in the city had been terrible all day, and Cara was running short on time to get to the shelter for her shift.

She would usually take the bus, but flagged a passing cab instead. Just as she slid into the back seat and tossed her mostly-empty tote bag to the floor, something caught her eye across the street.

Or rather, someone.

Two people, actually.

Elena Guzzi was just coming out of a specialty boutique, her arms loaded with several bags. A large-brimmed hat keeping half of her face hidden, but Cara would recognize the woman anywhere. At the end of the street, Domenic—Gian’s younger brother—waited for Elena, already holding the passenger side door open for the woman to get inside the car.

That was all Cara saw before her cab pulled away from the side of the road, leaving the scene behind.

Still, an angry ache had settled in Cara’s chest at the sight of Gian’s wife. After their first run in, Cara had been left feeling so ashamed for her involvement with Gian and the pregnancy. But after, once she had learned more of the story, and the things Gian told Cara, she didn’t think that run in with Elena had been accidental at all.

And neither had her pity party lies about losing a baby, or not being able to have more children.

Was Cara imperfect?

Were her actions immoral?

Was she a sinner in this?

Absolutely.

Yes, on every single account.